The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified six states experiencing a frequency of COVID-19 variants greater than 10 percent. The combined frequency of the P.1 variant (first identified in Brazil) and the B.1.351 variant (first identified in South Africa) exceeds 10 percent in Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Oregon, and Washington.
Scientific studies have found that monoclonal antibodies bamlanivimab and etesevimab administered together are not active against either the P.1 and B1.351 variants. REGEN-COV is another monoclonal antibody authorized for the same use as bamlanivimab and etesevimab together, and it is likely to be active against both variants. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends health care providers in these six states use REGEN-COV until further notice; the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will pause distribution of amlanivimab and etesevimab together in these states.
The announcement does not affect other states. All health care providers should monitor information from CDC, as well as state and local health authorities, regarding the frequency of the P.1 and B.1.351 variants in their region.
Visit the America’s Essential Hospitals coronavirus resource page for more information about the pandemic.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
